Western Australia has an area of 2 525 500 square km (33% of the area of Australia).
The climate is tropical monsoonal in the far north, Mediterranean in the south
west and semi arid to desert in the remainder. Most areas are dry even by Australian
standards, with nearly half the state receiving less than 200 mm. of rainfall
on average each year.

The 1993 population of the state was 1 676 000 and Perth is the capital city.
Other large towns are Bunbury, Albany and Esperance to the south, Northam and
Kalgoorlie to the east, and Geraldton, Carnarvon and Karratha to the north.

Perth is in the south west corner of Western Australia at 32 degrees south, 116
degrees east (GMT +8 hours). Cities in other parts of the world on a similar latitude
are Capetown, Casablanca, San Deigo, Santiago and Shanghai. Perth city is situated
on the Swan River (which is really an estuary) 19 km inland from the port of Fremantle,
which is on the Indian Ocean.
Distances and flying times (approximate):
Perth to ...

Perth has one of the lowest costs of living in Australia. In general
terms all living expenses such as rent, food, public transport, health, recreation
and miscellaneous (e.g. laundry expenses), can be readily accommodated on a weekly
allowance from A$175. This works out to around A$ 9,500 for a full year or A$
7,500 for a ten month academic year.

Tickets for public transports can be used across different modes of transport
(buses, trains and ferries), and are valid for a period of two hours after purchase.
For more information go to the wa government's transport website: *
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au